What's on in Grytviken (South Georgia), South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands through the year

Busy — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather

• Rule

  Permits and biosecurity checks

  1 Jan – 31 DecBook early

  You cannot arrive independently: visits run under a government permit through an approved operator, boots and velcro are inspected for seeds before every landing, no food goes ashore, and set distances from wildlife are enforced. Source ↗

Still on: Expedition ship season (15 Oct – 31 Mar (usually)), King penguin colonies (1 Nov – 28 Feb (usually)), Fur seal pupping (15 Nov – 15 Jan (usually))

Busy — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather

Nothing new starts in February.

Still on: Permits and biosecurity checks (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Expedition ship season (15 Oct – 31 Mar (usually)), King penguin colonies (1 Nov – 28 Feb (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in March.

Still on: Permits and biosecurity checks (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Expedition ship season (15 Oct – 31 Mar (usually))

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

• Season

  Winter shutdown

  1 Apr – 30 Sep · usuallyOff-season shutdownClosures

  Ships stop calling and the island is left to a handful of government staff, the museum team and the fisheries patrol. Nothing is open, nothing is scheduled, and there is no way for a visitor to get here.

Still on: Permits and biosecurity checks (1 Jan – 31 Dec)

Quiet — one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in May.

Still on: Permits and biosecurity checks (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Winter shutdown (1 Apr – 30 Sep (usually))

Quiet — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in June.

Still on: Permits and biosecurity checks (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Winter shutdown (1 Apr – 30 Sep (usually))

Quiet — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in July.

Still on: Permits and biosecurity checks (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Winter shutdown (1 Apr – 30 Sep (usually))

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in August.

Still on: Permits and biosecurity checks (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Winter shutdown (1 Apr – 30 Sep (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in September.

Still on: Permits and biosecurity checks (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Winter shutdown (1 Apr – 30 Sep (usually))

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

• Opening

  Expedition ship season

  15 Oct – 31 Mar · usuallySummer season opensBook early

  Everything here happens in the southern summer, when expedition ships work down from the Falklands and the museum, church and post office at Grytviken open for the hours a ship is in the bay. Source ↗

Still on: Permits and biosecurity checks (1 Jan – 31 Dec)

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

• Nature

  King penguin colonies

  1 Nov – 28 Feb · usuallyBirdlife season

  The colonies at St Andrews Bay and Salisbury Plain hold birds all year, but this is when they are at their loudest and most crowded, with last season's brown chicks still moulting among the adults. Source ↗

• Nature

  Fur seal pupping

  15 Nov – 15 Jan · usuallyWildlife seasonRisk

  Antarctic fur seals take over every workable beach to breed, and the bulls hold territory aggressively enough that landings get moved or dropped. Walking anywhere near the tussock means a stick and a guide. Source ↗

Still on: Permits and biosecurity checks (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Expedition ship season (15 Oct – 31 Mar (usually))

Busy — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather

Nothing new starts in December.

Still on: Permits and biosecurity checks (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Expedition ship season (15 Oct – 31 Mar (usually)), King penguin colonies (1 Nov – 28 Feb (usually)), Fur seal pupping (15 Nov – 15 Jan (usually))